ʻUmi-a-Līloa Mural Project:Paʻauilo Elementary & Intermediate School

Between January and May 2015, ʻŌiwi artist and huiMAU leader, Haley Kailiehu worked with students of Paʻauilo School and members of our community to collectively create the ʻUmi-a-Līloa Mural at Paʻauilo School.﻿

The moʻolelo in the mural...

The mural depicts various scenes from the moʻolelo of one of the most important chiefs in the history of Hawaiʻi, ʻUmi-a-Līloa. ʻUmi-a-Līloa was born and raised near Paʻauilo in Kealakaha, Hāmākua, and his reign established a self-sustaining, highly productive, and unified society on this island generations ago—an important model for us to strive towards today. According to one famous historian of Hawaiʻi, Samuel Manaiakalani Kamakau, "When the government of Hawaiʻi was united by ʻUmi-a-Līloa, his name became famous from Hawaiʻi to Kauaʻi. There was no aliʻi who reigned as he did. He cared for the old men and women and the parentless children; he cared for the common people; there was no killing and no theft. ʻUmi-a-Līloa was a pious chief in his reign, and therefore Umi-a-līloa became an ancestor of cheifs and an ancestor of common people. There is no common person of Hawaiʻi who could say that ʻUmi-a-Līloa is not an ancestor of theirs, and if there is a person who denies this, it is because they lack knowledge of their ancestry."

Learn more about the story of ʻUmi-a-Līloa on our Moʻolelo no ʻUmi Blog page, ​and by clicking on links below the mural images.

Painting with the ʻōpio of Paʻauilo School

Beginning
in January 2015, work began on our ʻUmi-a-Līloa community mural
project at Paʻauilo School. Our lead artist and project organizer, Haley
Kailiehu, began the new school semester at Paʻauilo School as a part-time
teacher, meeting once a week with each class from Kindergarten to Fifth grade.
In each class meeting, Haley shared portions of the moʻolelo of ʻUmi with our
youth, engaging them in various art activities based on lessons derived from the moʻolelo. During school hours Haley also worked with the K-5 students the various stages of creating this mural, from prep work to painting two full panels of the mural. Approximately 160 students from Paʻauilo School participated in this project.

Community Mural Painting Day:March 14, 2015

On March 14, 2015, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Paʻauilo, we organized our first community mural painting day at Paʻauilo School. The event was well-attended, including approximately 45 students, parents, and other community members who came together throughout the day to contribute their mana and aloha to the creation of the first two panels of this mural. These first two panels depict early scenes in the moʻolelo of ʻUmi, including the genealogies of ʻUmi’s parents, Līloa and Akahi-a-Kuleana, and the decree of Līloa to bequeath upon his eldest son, Hakau, the kingdom, and upon ʻUmi, the care of his akua, Kūkāʻilimoku. Learn more about the moʻolelo of ʻUmi on our Moʻolelo no ʻUmi Blog page.

Community Mural Painting Day:April 25, 2015

Our second community mural painting day was held on Saturday April 25, which was equally well attended by approximately 55 students, parents, teachers, and other community members. In addition to working on the mural, during lunchtime we all gathered together to share the full moʻolelo of ʻUmi. In this way, the experience as a whole was one of education and mutual sharing, with students and community members sharing their aloha and talents in the creation of the mural, and project organizers sharing our experience in art and knowledge of the moʻolelo with others.

Another important aspect of this experience was the ʻohana-welcoming and learning environment created by such a project.

On both community painting days, participants came as ʻohana to join in the learning experience: keiki, mākua (parents), and kūpuna (elders). It was beautiful to see many young parents especially bring their keiki to paint and learn with them, in an environment that they could engage in together. Throughout both painting days, we had four living generations contribute to the mural, and many more who were there with us in spirit.

Mural Mounting: March 19-26, 2016

On the week of March 19-26, 2016, huiMAU members worked with the help of other members of our community, including Monty Miranda of MWM Construction, to mount the ʻUmi-a-Līloa Mural in front of the Paʻauilo School Gym.

A message from lead artist, Haley Kailiehu:"Art has the power to transform people and communities. It's not so much about the art itself, for me, but it's the coming together, the convergence of generations, ideas, knowledge. Through these experiences, we share stories and create new ones together. When we started painting our ‪‎Umi-a-Liloa‬ mural about a year ago, I knew that it would take a lot people coming together to paint, a lot of time, effort, and patience. In taking our time, we were able

to build strong connections with the people, with the community who showed up for hours, days and weeks to paint, share, and sweat with us. We went on huakaʻi to the places we were painting about. We were able to start a community garden in this ʻāina to start helping our community to feed ourselves. In all of this, I see the art as a way to organize and grow communities that flourish when working together. Art and, in particular, murals can catalyze change in consciousness and unlock the potential for even greater achievements. Mahalo to my kupuna who have set me on this path. Mahalo to my parentals for the love and support. Mahalo to my kokoʻolua Noʻeau for keeping me balanced. Mahalo to my ohana. And mahalo mahalo mahalo to everyone who came to support this project in many ways!!"

Mahalo nui to our supporters who graciously helped to fund & donate to this community project:

Grant Funders:

​Donors:

Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili is a community-based nonprofit organization. Our mission is to re-establish the systems that sustain our community through educational initiatives and land-based practices that cultivate abundance, regenerate responsibilities, and promote collective health and well-being.